Hitchin MP’s campaigning secures Government action on unadopted housing estates
- Alistair Strathern
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP
THURSDAY 18th DECEMBER 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alistair Strathern, the MP for the Hitchin constituency, has welcomed the launch of the Government’s plan to tackle the challenge of unadopted housing estates.
Unadopted housing estates are those where the local authority has not adopted shared assets like roads and public spaces. Historically, unadopted estates were a rarity, but research from the Home Builders Federation found up to 90% of new estates went unadopted, leaving households reliant on private management companies to maintain them at significant extra costs.
As well as facing management fees of on average up to £350 a year in addition to council tax, homeowners can often face real challenges ensuring maintained work is carried out effectively by management companies they have limited control over. As a result, households can be left with roads unsurfaced, drainage systems barely fit for purpose, and green spaces dangerously neglected.
Following his campaigning on the issue, Mr Strathern introduced a private members bill to tackle some of the root causes and challenges of unadopted housing estates. Today, the Government announced it was consulting on taking forward two of its key provisions:
Enhanced protections for homeowners – introducing stronger regulation of estate management companies, mandatory qualifications for managing agents, and new rights for homeowners to challenge unreasonable fees.
Reducing the prevalence of private estate management – exploring options to make adoption of roads and amenities by local authorities much more the norm and remove barriers to adoption
Since being elected Strathern has a led of group of Labour MPs campaigning to tackle unadopted estates. Beyond visiting estates in his constituency and fighting constituents’ corners against rogue estate management companies, he has hauled these companies to Westminster to answer MPs questions and written cross party letters to them.
Links to the consultations can be found above. Both close on the 12th March.
Alistair Strathern MP said:"For too long, regulation hasn’t kept up with the growing challenge of estate adoption limbo.
“With 90% of new estates going unadopted, the system clearly isn’t working.
“From roads and green spaces that wouldn’t look out of place on tough mudder contests, to rip off management fees, its households who have been paying the price.
“It can’t be right that homeowners pay twice for basic services, and get a well below par service.
“I’ve heard from countless residents across our towns and villages who’ve been trapped by hidden charges and poor standards, and I’ve taken those stories to Westminster.
“Today’s announcement shows the Government firmly on the right course.
“I’ll keep pushing to make sure these reforms go further and faster.”
Matthew Pennycook, Minister of State for Housing said:
‘Our Government is determined to ensure homeowners on freehold housing estates get a fair deal.
‘I’m grateful to Alistair Strathern MP for his tireless work spotlighting this issue in Westminster and campaigning for change.’
Notes to Editors
“Fleecehold” refers to private estate management on unadopted housing estates, where homeowners pay additional fees to companies for roads, drains, and green spaces alongside council tax.
The Home Builders Federation research can be found here: https://www.hbf.co.uk/news/unadopted-estates/
Details of Mr Strathern’s Housing Estates Bill can be found here: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3943